Folly Beach County Park

We did not get to experience the summer on this vast beach. We wanted to venture out of our hotel and chose to walk on the beach in the cold weather. There's a lot of parking and a bathroom, which was closed due to seasonal hours. At this time, there was no fee to enter as we were the only ones there. Hopefully I get another layover here during the summer. I will definitely return.

Beautiful, well kept park. Cost is $5 per car. Large gravel parking lot with a few paved handicap parking spots. Pavilion & several beach access points. This park takes up the entire south end of Folly Island. Changing stalls, restrooms. Great place to watch sunrise and sunset.

I fished off the Folly Beach pier and had an absolute blast! It's beautiful. For $4 you can't go wrong. They have a nice bar outside just before you enter the pier as well as a nice restaurant just in front of the bar which you can dine inside or out. There's a well stocked tackle shop where you can rent a rod. Impressive please which I will definitely frequent again and again!

It was a very beautiful day, I had an amazing walk on the beach. The water was warm. A bit contaminated with used band-aids. Only to return to my vehicle and see a $60 ticket on my window🤬😮‍💨 okay cool! Don't think I'll be back!

We went to Folly beach for a day trip on a Friday. The entrance fee is per car $15 M-F and $25 on the weekends during the summer. We arrived after 11 am and there were only a couple of parking spots left. So make sure to come in early. They have plenty of changing rooms and a rinse off station. The proximity to the beach from the parking is very close. There were lifeguards at the beach which is very nice. If you want less crowded space you would need to walk further away but then you are swimming on your own risk. There were a couple of turtle nests down the beach, they were fenced off and had a sign saying that they should not be disturbed. We also saw a dolphin playing in the waves which made my day!

Comparing folly to Destin beaches it’s not as good, but we had an overall good time at the beach they had concession stands with pretty good milkshakes,and a really good cinnamon pretzel. the beach is clean no trash laying around and have a spray off area and parking was $15 which was a pretty good deal. The view was nice and wasn’t too crowded on the beach. overall it was good and I would go back

Beautiful beach, not crowded and has something for everyone....shallow enough to go far to catch waves for boogie boarding but gentle enough at the shore for kids and long and wide sandbar to walk on. See the pretty wishing tree

Gorgeous beach. Nice and clean. I didn't park at the $15 lot with the restrooms, playground, and restaurant. I just went down the same street and found a small free public lot between 2 beachfront houses. It had a boardwalk over the dunes to the beach. Definitely consider taking some shade, a cooler, a beach blanket/mat and sunscreen bc once you see and hear the waves crashing, taste the salt air, and get your feet in the ocean you won't want to leave.

Folly Beach County Park is such a special spot! With its beautiful location between the Atlantic Ocean and the Folly River, it is an incredible place for beachcombing and relaxing walks with our dog. Finding oyster shells and shark teeth there is like a treasure hunt every time! Plus, it has a unique charm with all the wildlife, especially the Eastern Brown Pelicans.

The country park is on the south end of the island. There is no barrier on the beach itself to prevent one from walking over if you park your car in one of the island's numerous alcoves, and nothing prevents you from using the facilities here, which include bathrooms and water fountains that are otherwise hard to find. The fee for entering here is higher than the fee to park on the island for an entire day, and if you pay the island's parking fee, you can relocate and see the lighthouse or get dinner. So what is the point of paying to get into this park? I suspect it's for the locals who live within the county and are eligible for a parks pass, which will save them money in the long run. Any way you want to get there, it's a good quality, peaceful, clean beach.

I wish I knew about this spot sooner, it was so much less crowded but perhaps it was the time of the evening. You can go in and pay for parking or find limited street parking. We came here just before the sunset, but there was a huge cloud blocking the sun ‍ but the sky was still really pretty. We just posted up on the sand and relaxed with the nice breeze. Definitely want to come back another time during the day!

Beautiful spot, not too crowded everything you need here. Area is removed from houses and development.

Great place to enjoy Folly Beach. If you're out of town they have everything available for rent. Restrooms and showers. My advice is to check the tides before you go.

Truly one of my favorite places! This part of Folly Beach is so beautiful. There's both perfect spots to lie down and have a good beach set up and also plenty of beach to enjoy a walk as well. I have seen a lot of wildlife here including dolphins, bonnet sharks, crabs, helmet crabs, star fish and plenty of birds. I have also found many beautiful shells and shark teeth here. To get in the county park you either need the gold pass for county parks or it's $5 on weekdays and $15-20 on weekends mostly. A plus side of this parking cost is that this part of the beach is less crowded. It's open until a half hour before sunset. There are beach showers by the beach entrances and a large central building with clean bathrooms, chair rentals, snacks and nice Adirondack chairs to sit in. This part of folly beach overall fells like less of a tourist spot and is both beautiful and relaxing

Great day at eve beach. We passed lots of public access beach parking along the way to this park but the wife wanted to have facilities close by. $20 to get into the park but they have a snack bar, beach rentals, and those all important facilities. I even noticed a rental venue on the property and someone was there getting married. Pretty cool. I'm assuming that $20 reduces the party crowd a little and that was fine by me for this visit. Great location and I flew my drone for some great video and pics.

Folly Beach is incredibly beautiful. One of the best places to enjoy the beach is at the Folly Beach County Park on the south end of the island. The amenities are perfect for the family to enjoy a day of fun in the sun. For only $5 a day per car, you can park, have access to changing rooms, showers, bathrooms, snack bar and endless miles of pristine sandy beach. You can even leave the park for lunch and return later in the day with your receipt. The staff at the gate is friendly and will offer information about the beach and island. The park opens at 8:00 am and closes at dusk. There is parking for 100s of cars. People come to swim, walk the dogs, surf, collect sharks teeth and shells, bird watch and relax. There is a strong rip tide at the south end of the beach which is well marked. Life guards are on duty during the peak season but were not on duty in December. We loved it so much that we went every day during our week long visit.

We came out here on a Friday morning. This time of year (October) the parking is only $5. There was plenty of spaces close to the building. They have bathrooms, though the only ones open were the two family restrooms so there was a bit of a line. The ramps out to the beach were really nice and there were showers to spray yourself down which was nice since our feet were super sandy. The beach was very nice as well and wasn't super crowded. There were lots of dogs too so that was nice.

In a nutshell, Folly Beach State Park makes going to the beach an easy experience. Instead of circling, stressing out looking for parking, you drive into an easy lot within easy walking distance of the beach. For the small price of the county gold pass you get access to the state park right on the beach, with a much better chance of parking than random searching on the street. And no tickets. The beach house has bathrooms, showers to remove sand on your way out, and food and ice cream for purchase. If there's a drawback, it's that you're not near the downtown area if you're planning to go to a bar or restaurant there.

Nice, big and convenient beach near Charleston. Has some amenities such as bathroom, changing room and a snack bar. I think parking was $15 without a park pass.

Great beach with lots of shops and restaurants nearby. It was not super crowded and was very clean.

I love spending a leisurely afternoon at this park! I'm a gold pass holder, so I come here often. The new beach house and facilities are so nice! Great views too if you want to hang out with a good book under the awnings. I always walk away from the populated area of the beach and this park allows you to see the pristine beauty of the dunes and ocean. Today I saw dolphins frolicking off shore as I walked along. My favorite time of year here is in the fall when there is a slight chill in the air. Perfect for a meditative beach walk!

We decided to visit Folly on a day trip from Charlotte. We came during the week. It was $15 to park and had clean facilities/bathrooms. Snack bar and life guards until 6. Changing rooms and a shower to wash. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rental. Be warned that if it's a certain wind speed they will come around and collect your umbrellas and you do not receive a refund. And as we learned if you eat and there is no umbrella covering your head, the birds will harass you. Took a whole cracker/cheese, pepperoni sandwich out of my hand mid bite type of precision. LOL The umbrellas kept them at bay. Not too crowded and it thinned out after 2-3pm. The kids found lots of wild life and shells. Great day trip! I have to plan to do this every year!

Great spot for a picnic, walk along the beach or just enjoying fair weather! The Visitors Center has a snack bar, public restrooms and post beach rinse showers. I don't recall the cost for entry but an annual pass is really the way to go.

It's a beautiful and peaceful beach area at one end of the Folly beach strip. We didn't have to pay for some reason the day we went. That was a sweet bonus. It was nice that it had bathrooms available too. I liked the fact that they were relatively clean too. It was a mild but yet slightly warm and windy early October week day. There were very few people roaming around the beach. That's always a super sweet plus for me. I enjoyed combing the beach for shells as well as watching and listening the churning waves. This is the first time I was able to see the Atlantic Ocean. Previously visiting the Pacific many times over, I can visibly see the big difference between the two. I suppose the only disappointment I can report with the Atlantic is that it looks so much different in color. It has a murky darker greyish cast to the water. The Pacific boasts and owns the classic majestic multi blue color. But, it's really OK because I just love the ocean so so so much regardless. It's power and size overwhelms me, but yet fills me with a beautiful calm all at the same time. It commands so much respect and reverence. It's a hugely emotional experience all of it's own. I hope one day to come back soon enough; and relish and drink it all in again.

With a Charleston County Gold PassCard, parking is a free. Outside sitting on the deck (some areas shaded) and "dining" (once you buy from the snack bar). Good views over the dunes, toward the ocean.

Sometimes you need to remove yourself from the beach crowds. Away from the pier, the bars, the umbrellas, the children and all the noise that pollutes a quiet beach experience. There is a place where you hear the sharpness of the waves, you witness the sun lower from the sky into the horizon, you can walk alone with your thoughts and you can encounter the Folly Beach Wishing tree. There is such a place Auntie M, there really is. A place where there is an 1/8 of a mile of fresh sand, small, but consistent waves and a sky of blues and amber. Believe it or not, the Folly Beach County Park is about 1 mile from The Tides and the Folly Pier. Just one short mile (You can drive or walk) - Take Ashley West and you will it it straight on. While at the park, you can walk up two flights to the pavilion and watch the ocean from up above. When the tide is low, you can walk almost to Kiawah Island. Be careful, there is a bird nesting area that is blocked off, so be courteous to that area. Sometimes you don't have to go far to find the great escape. If you are driving, you can save money and park on the street right outside the park entrance, but make sure your car is completely off the concrete to avoid getting a ticket.

Simply a forgotten treasure. Pay $10 and enjoy the day. Bring your own chairs and umbrella or rent. Snack and drinks at a little cafe or being your own. Not sure if you can drink alcohol on the beach, but the vibe is laid back. So, if you decide, be discreet. Don't litter. Be sure to check out the "Wishing tree." Find a shell and make a wish. You won't be sorry.

The Folly Beach Park is a lovely park ran by the Charleston Country Parks service. I use to come here a lot by foot when the park was closed to the public and the only way to the park was by beach or boat. Back then it was a great natural environment with an uninhabited surreal beauty to it. Now that the park has been restored and is open again it is still a great park. Parking here is about $5 compared to $20 you'd pay in Folly proper to park. This is a great deal if you are just here for the beach, but if you are looking to hang out in town in Folly you'll have a good walk ahead of you; it's best to walk the beach into town. Folly Park is a great place to watch the sun rise or set and get those really cool pictures.

I love Charleston and was brought my 2 year old niece along when I visited. I took her and my family to this beach and they were so surprised (being from Southern California) how warm, calm and shallow the water was.. I actually was able to play with my niece in the water and let her stand in the little waves.. the water was so warm... I like to go to the beach right outside the resorts, even if i am not staying there, because you can pay the guy 40.00 or so to get you chairs and an umbrella and he will even move them for you if the tide comes in where you are... The sand is so white and it was very family friendly yet not over crowded.. there were a lot of restaurants and bars to walk to and the weather was rather fine for us... I would go back..

When I was a little kid, my parents used to take us to Folly Beach whenever we were in the Charleston area visiting relatives. However, when I got a little older, I started going to Sullivans & IOP instead, so it has now been a few years since my last visit to Folly. The area has really grown, but it is still a quaint little beach. We decided to try going to the county park for easy parking, but unfortunately, when we arrived, they had the park closed. The sign out front indicated that the park was closed due to erosion. So, we drove down the street just a bit and were able to find an open parking spot along the street. The spot that we were near has a lot of erosion and unfortunately as a result, a lot of sand has washed out into the ocean. Maybe it is better closer to the pier, but this part of the beach has seen better days.

We reserved the pavilion for our daughters wedding on Friday August 24th. The place was ready and clean upon arrival. There is lots of lighting and electrical supply to use. What is great about the pavilion is that it is large with vast outdoor space, a shelter area with down and upstairs. They have clean restrooms and provide a staff member during your event to keep up with the trash receptacles. Also there is plenty of reserved parking.

First time here on a got a chance to relax before a busy business trip this week. Very clean sandy beach the waster was so warm not like the frigid New England waters. What was great was that I was able to rent and umbrella and chair for the day for $10 each. I didn't have to lift a finger the staff drives to where you want to set up and they set it up for you! There are showers and changing huts at every entry point for the beach from the parking lot. It was very convenient when you getting ready to leave. This place is more family oriented always from the busy folly pier area. For $10 all day with in and out access it's the best option I think. I would definitely come back here.

Awesome experience inside Folly Beach park. Its just a short walk to the right after parking. We went at low tide and it was perfect for shelling and spread out as not many people were present. The sand was super soft and almost quicksandish... we had a blast, it does cost to park inside the park $5 all day.

Oh Yes! If you are looking for the perfect semiprivate and relaxing beach vacation, this is it! Gershwin wrote "Summertime and the living is easy"...on this beach. Private home rentals or stay in one of the local, on the beach, condos or hotels. It is mostly private homes, especially to the left of the Pier. Enjoy soaking up the sun or playing in the waves using your own ocean front beach! I have rented a home several times here and I would do it again and again! With what you would pay for a hotel elsewhere, you can not beat these prices. For information go to: http://www.follybeach.com/realestate.php Anyhow, about Folly Beach...Folly Beach has always been a part of coastal South Carolina's history and charm. Nestled between the Folly River and the Atlantic Ocean, just fifteen minutes from downtown Charleston, the barrier island of Folly Beach truly offers you the best of both worlds. Locals refer to "our little corner of the world" as the "Edge of America". When you wake up in the morning you'll enjoy the sunrise on the beach and finish your day watching a spectacular sunset on the Folly River. On the eastern tip of the Island you'll find an outstanding view of the Morris Island Lighthouse from one of the three county parks. The fishing pier, which extends more than 1,045 feet into the Atlantic Ocean, hosts fishing tournaments...and if you want to fish, you can rent everything you need at the shop on the Pier. You'll catch sight of loggerhead turtles nesting, dolphins playing and see bald eagles soaring in the sky. Folly is home to many endangered species and they do their part in protecting and encouraging their continued success. Accommodations range from quaint cottages, ultra modern beach houses, to sleek condominiums and a luxury hotel. So no matter what your budget needs, Folly is sure to fit into it. You'll also find some of the finest food on the coast here in Folly Beach. Whether you're looking for a gourmet meal, a seafood feast or a tasty sandwich. If you prefer to cook "at home", you can shop one of their local markets and prepare fresh local fish in your own Condo or beach house rental kitchen. Folly's local shops offer a variety of goods and services. Everything from bathing suits, surf boards and surfing gear, to souvenirs, local art, sea shells and gifts ...all within minutes in their quaint little town. No matter what your interests - tennis, fishing, kayaking, surfing, theater, arts or beach combing, Folly Beach offers it all year long. In fact the surfing is some of the best on the east coast and Folly hosts a number of surf events throughout the year. The beach is huge and with private beach fronts and I have never seen it crowded. With Charleston minutes away it is truly a win win!

This is not a park but a parking lot $15 all day parking. Multiple public outdoor showers with no shelter and bathrooms up flights of stairs if they are not locked. Park does not regulate social distance rules or regulations with covid-19 in full swing. People are together with family but are not spread out 6feet apart from other families along the shorelines or other areas along the beach within the park. There is more space at the no swim area, you can only go out knee to waist high due to the strong currents that will take you out to sea. As I was there I saw lifeguards address 2 rescues where 2 people were swept out and could not swim back in. One time we had to run to get the lifeguard as they did not see the young man out there. Luckily the young man was in good shape and survived. The staff of this place is young and very rude, non compassionate of people and their issues no matter the circumstances. This place has a huge building for the staff not the public. Do not go in this park unless you want to pay the $15 and stay the day YOU WILL NOT GET REIMBURSED. YOU WILL NOT GET A VOUCHER FOR THE PAY MACHINES FOR THE PAY LOTS AS I WAS TOLD THEY ARE THE CITIES NOT THE COUNTY!!!! On the bright side the lifeguards are well trained and did an amazing job on the rescues. Great job guys

This is my home beach. I've been surfing at Folly since I was 8 years old. A lot has changed since then. Back in the day, it was pretty much a locals only beach. It used to be a beach where the lower and middle class used to hang out, even had a bonafide biker bar on it. Now, it's "cleaned up" it's image, and is trying to bring in more tourism. Center street now has fancy places to eat, nice stores, newer architecture as well. What's cool though, is that right next to the fancy places, you have the dive bars and surf shops. I think Folly has done a fair job of balancing the touristy places, with the locals only places. Most everyone there has a smile on their face, because it is "The Edge of America". I just hope they keep the balance going and don't let it get like IOP or even worse, Myrtle Beach. As far as surfing goes, if you want to see THE BEST spot in SC, go down to the washout. Just take a left at the traffic light and drive down until you get to where there's no houses on your right, then you've reached the washout. BE WARNED, if you don't know how to surf, DO NOT go surfing here. It's already crowded enough and when people get in there that don't know what they are doing, tempers start to flare. If you piss the right people off, you'll find out quickly. Car windows have been known to be waxed over before, as well as a few fights here and there. If you are inexperienced in surfing but want to give it a go, try at any other area. Folly pretty much breaks the same all over, except down by the county park, where it never breaks. At the end of Folly, past the washout, you can go to the old Coast Guard base. There's great fishing down there, plenty of cool wildlife areas to walk around, and at the end of it, you can see the famed Morris Island lighthouse. It's a bit of a walk, but it's well worth it. Very pretty scenery and lots of shelling to do around there. I have a special place in my heart for Folly. If you aren't big into touristy beaches and like the low key lifestyle, it may find a space in yours.

We are so grateful for this county park! It is wonderful in absolutely every way and every age group!

Remember when you could drink on Folly? Those were the 5-Star days! Ever since a 4th of July event gone rogue... the city slipped a no drinking ordinance under the radar and abolished fun for the rest of time. Everyone still drinks on the beaches, but you do it discretely, in cups, and at the risk of a hefty fine if a cop is feeling uppity that day. Folly is known as the locals beach because it's laid back man and that's were the surfers catch waves bra'. I personally don't go that often because I'm on the other side of town and the traffic to and fro is just horrendous on a great day. If I lived on that side of town, it would obviously be my beach of choice. One of the coolest parts of going to Folly is hanging out at the local bars and restaurants in the area and if you are looking to hang ten, you'll be totally stoked at the washout... bra'

It just isn't the same. This park was literally leveled by the hurricane. The dunes are gone! The tip of the peninsula is gone! The boardwalk and concession stand is gone! Its now a flat beach, with portatoilets, and a small utility shed for a concession stand. I was sorely disappointed when I visited. Perhaps, over time, it will return to its grand nature. It's a long drive down a two lane road to get there, while dodging walkers (not the flesh-eating ones on AMC), bicyclers, and cars coming out of blind spots. Me? I'll park at either the Pier or one of the parking spots nearby. It all cost the same anyway.

We usually go to Isles of Palm if we want to go to the beach but we decided to give Folly Beach a try since we bought a Groupon coupon for the Cha Cha Mexican Grill in Folly Beach. (see my review on Cha Cha). And we wanted only 2-3 hours at the beach. I am posting this to help other Yelpers. We parked on the street to avoid paying for parking which by the way are at residences and not commercial parking. Maybe I don't know where to park since its our first time there. Well, our car got ticketed. (see my picture of the ticket for the various infractions your car could get ticketed for). We got a ticket for "parked with tires in roadway" $30 fine. I think the fines are pretty steep considering a little town of Folly Beach. From the looks of the homes there, revenue from ticketing vehicles is probably the primary revenue for the city of Folly Beach.

This is a beautiful, pristine stretch of beach that only the locals and a few people who read YELP reviews know about. It is way down south of the "scene" on Folley, so if you are not willing to drive a bit you'll miss it. If you fight the traffic, and the distance, you'll be rewarded with some lovely untouched stretches of beach with oyster and clam beds, shell collecting opportunities, and sunny stretches of sand that the average tourist is not willing to seek out. Just go and experience it. You'll thank me!

A little off to itself littered with sea shells. This particular beach is right outside of Charleston. We came here for a wedding on the beach close to sunset. The beach itself was much nicer than I expected, and even during the day wasn't choked with people. There are mostly private houses along the coastline with a few tiny public areas you can park in to walk to the beach, some of it is on the honor system. If you happen to park there you might not have any way to wash yourself off after coming back. There is, however, parking and open "showers" by the pier. If you're a sea shell collector, scavenger, shell searching fool, throw caution to the wind for some nice shell hunting is to be had. The beach is littered with shells. Mostly broken, but sometimes there is a treasure or two. Also lots of little sandy tide pools to sift through. The shells and the cool pier were probably my favorite parts of this beach, but I'd also give it thumbs up to any beach bride or groom to be--- semi-secluded, peaceful, and a tiny biy off the path.

It was so perfect yesterday not a lot of people plenty of shells. There where a lot of Jellyfish on the beach as well never seen so many before.

I love the beach, any kind of beach - sandy, rocky, white sand, mud...doesn't matter as long as I next to the ocean, any ocean I'm a pretty happy lady. This was my first time on an East Coast beach and I was quite pleased. The dunes are beautiful, the houses lining the beach are pleasant to look at and only add the the atmosphere. Water was quite warm, sun was out and I had a great afternoon hanging out here. Would definitely like to come back sometime for a longer weekend!

Such a great beach park, I've been coming here since I was a kid and although a lot of damage happened after the last hurricane it is still a great place to bring the family with easy parking, bathrooms and lifeguards

Folly Beach County Park is on the tip of the island. The park has ample parking and a few changing stations. In the winter time, parking is free, although bathrooms are closed. I enjoy bringing my dog here in the cooler months. Folly has a laid-back vibe and is my beach of choice.

Let's title this one, "How to Succeed at Life without Really Trying." I live about two hours away from Charleston. One of the benefits to living in South Carolina is the beach. However, going to Myrtle is a hassle and fairly expensive. Folly Beach is perfect. From Columbia, it's two hours and with small kids, I make it a day trip. You can rent (and they set them up) umbrellas and chairs for a nominal fee. There are lifeguards. There are portable bathrooms. There's a shack that sells ice cream and sunscreen. I literally pack a cooler, load my kids up early in the morning, drive to Folly and we spend about 4-5 hours at the beach and then go home. My kids love it, I love how easy it is and how much fun everyone has. Then we're back home at the end of the night and don't have the hassle and expense of a hotel and resort.

Great spot for swimming and fishing. We drove our golfcart, and the $8 parking fee was waived. $10 umbrella rental was worth it in this heat - the crew comes and puts it up for you. I also like the safety of the life guards being there. If you get a chance to walk around to Stono Inlet, you will probably see many dolphins in the sound, fish jumping, pelicans flying, marsh grasses rustling - picturesque and pure natural beauty.

The beach is nice here. You don't get much for the seven dollar entry fee, only porta potties for restrooms, which my wife can't abide. We probably will not return. There is a very long stretch of unspoiled beach to walk on, that is the best thing here.

Like the Morris Island Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve at the other end of Folly Island, the Folly Beach County Park is my other regular beach to visit. I almost always find a spot along the road (not that I'm suggesting not to support the park). From there the distance through the entrance, to the beach and around the mysterious jetty and island end to the back side on the Folly River, and then back, is around 3 miles. Even on the busiest tourist-dominated day, this beach is not usually all that crowed compared to some, and if you go around the inlet, you'll see fewer people still, giving you the full sense of space, feeling you can almost reach out to the Cole Islands or the Bird Key Stono Heritage Preserve. I've seen some of the most interesting sea life in my walks and runs here, with erosion oddities and sand migrations making for some dramatic photos, showing much change over the years. Just like the Morris Island Inlet, on this end of Folly Island you also can get an education in tidal action, the power of water and wind. The whole park is not always accessible by foot, and the waters can be full of rip currents, but this is a nature preserve to be respected. Both ends of Folly Island will remind you why the island has the open and jubilant culture it has, compared to closed, private, snobby beaches.

Once you get past the rocks, the water is awesome! But yes, this beach is pretty rocky... or at least it was a few weeks ago. Apparently Folly Beach is where the locals go, and with good reason. Easy to find and accessible. Plenty of sand for everyone to share. And you can BYOB, assuming it's in plastic or aluminum containers. Usually I'm a "knee deep" ocean swimmer. But the undertow here is minimal and water shallow, which allows for weenies like myself to enjoy a true dip in the Atlantic. The temps were just right, not like what we experience in NorCal. Refreshing and not shockingly cold. A nice beach, indeed! I'd recommend to anyone visiting Charleston for an afternoon of sun 'n' fun!

Folly Beach is a bit out of the way for me as I live in Summerville, but my wife and I still go out there when possible. Mostly because we got married at the end of the pier in whatever that is called on the 2nd level - very nice at the sunset. This is widely considered the best spot to catch some waves in the Charleston area. The washout is what everyone talks about but there are plenty of good spots. The lighthouse is a nice little walk down the north end of the island, and apply the bug spray liberally. Folly Beach only place you can get away with anything using the word "liberal" in it in Charleston so enjoy. Traffic is a pain getting out there, but mostly only through James Island. I've heard the nightmares about rush hour but only mad dogs and english tourists would be on the road at that time. I have no personal experience with the fishing there, but the pier is always jammed up with people who obviously know what they are doing and have been there before. Parking can be a bit tricky too so try to get out early or late. If you go late, maybe grab a bite at 18 center street if you're in a Tapas mood. Usually pretty good. One unusual part about the beach which won't matter to tourists but if you're living here you may find interesting. I understand why people from James, Johns Island, etc. love it because it's obviously closer. However, there is a general "snootiness" for lack of a better term when it comes to Folly for those who prefer it without geographic reasons or because they are surfers. "Folly Beach afficionados" eschew going to the other beaches because of either the "cultural elite" that live out in Mt. Pleasant, Sully & the IOP. Either that or the excessive commercialism or how much more "laid back" folly is. Hate to break it to them but Folly Beach is just as commercial as any of the others, minus maybe IOP, the percentage of homes on Folly that are over a million dollars is as high as any of the other islands, I get a headache putting up with all the traffic on folly (never laid back) and their own attitude is by nature elitism. Ironic, anyway. Okay, off the soapbox because I actually do like the beach. I just don't like talking to the Follyheads lest I accidentally mention I enjoy Sullivan's Island. I'll close with a nice recap. It's a great beach with plenty of opportunities to "do".

My favorite beach. You won't be disappointed. Just go. Dolphins play around the bend on the back side of the park. It is also a great beach for combing and fossil hunting. Really a great beach for parents with young kids because the lifeguards are there during peak season. It is laid back and chill. Beautiful all the way around.

We went to Charleston for a girls trip and what girls trip is complete without a beach! Folly Beach is about a 20 min drive from the downtown area, and it is def worth it. It wasn't crowded and it was really nice. There are homes you can rent on the beach, and lots of cute restaurants to check out.

It was a great stretch of beach to walk on. Very relaxed and not too many people in the off season. If you drive or walk all the way north east you end up near the lighthouse which is a beautiful view. Parking is sometimes a little tough and there is some graffiti on some abandoned buildings which makes it a little more gloomy but otherwise a great beach to stroll through.

Beautiful, family friendly, and clean sandy beach with nice warm water! We drove past the hilton inn and there was pay-per-hour parking with a walkway right to the beach. It was $1 per hour and there are shady spots. The beach itself was wonderful. It was so clean and plenty of space for the kids to run around. It was very sandy without any rocks even in the water the ocean floor was very sandy and smooth. It seemed as if right in front of the hotel and all the way to the right it was crowded but our location was not. There were a lot of folks just like us there with kids and set up a canopy. There was a lifeguard on duty too. It was very relaxing. The waves weren't too big but perfect for boogy boarding. My daughter is five and she had a great time. From the looks of it there were a lot of time shares or condos available. I read the reviews for the Hilton Inn on the beach and I would never pay that much for dirty rooms just because its on the beach. We ended up staying downtown for a fraction of the price and just drive to the beach every day. The plus side of staying downtown is that you get to explore Charleston on foot without having to drive and spend countless hours to find parking. We stayed at the Fulton Lane Inn on King St. It was one block from Market St where all the shopping and site-seeing is.

We love the newly renovated Folly Beach County Park. We're annual pass holders so we visit often. If you're a local and visit this beach more than 10 times a year, it would be in your best interest to buy an annual pass, it's good throughout Charleston County and gives you access to 3 beach parks.